Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



UNITED STATES BENJAMIN F.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSLYN, OF STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42.000, dated Mar h 2 1 4; flfltlfdnifid March ll, 1864.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, B. F. JOSLYN, of Stonington, New London county,Connecticut, have invented certain Improvements in Breech- Loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of a device, fully described hereinafter, for partially extracting metal cartridges from the barrels of breechloading firearms on turning the movable breech-piece away from the said barrel.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, Iwill now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, of sufficient of a bi'eeclrloading fire-arm to illustrate my improvements; and Fig. 2, a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. 1.

A represents a portion of the barrel, on the rear end of which is a collar, a, forming a part of the projecting tongue 0, which is secured to the stock of the fire-arm.

B is the movable breech, the portion 1) of which represents part of a hollow cylinder of such a form as to fit snugly to and embrace a portion of the barrel. This semi-cylindrical portion of the breech terminates in two projections, d (I, one of which is connected to one side of the barrel by a set-screw, c, the other proj ection bei n g connected to the opposite side of the barrel by a similar set-screw, the centers of the two set-screws coinciding with each other and with the center of the barrel. The barrel, at the rear of the collar or, terminates in a projection, c, of the form of the frustum of a cone, and against this projection bears the flange or enlargement f at the rear of the metallic cartridge, the vertical portion h of the movable breech maintainingthe cartridge in its proper position within the barrel. It will be seen that there is a recess on the under side of thehorizontal portion of the breech, and that when the latter is depressed the collar a fits snugly onto the said recess,thelower end of the vertical portion h of the breech being inclined so as to fit snugly against the inclined shoulderi on the tongue G. This shonl der, together with the collar (1, thus affords the most substantial bearings for resisting the shock imparted to the breech when the dis charge of the load takes place, there being lit tle or no strain on the set-screws c, to which the projecting ends of the breech are fitted somewhat loosely.

Q is the hammer, having the usual projection, j, for striking against the nipple k, the latter being secured to the vertical portion h. of the movable breech at a point central with the bore of the barrel. The projection b has on the under side two notches, m and m, into either of which will fit the inclined projection n on one end of the lever G, which is hung loosely to the tongue 0 and operates in a slot formed in the under side of the said tongue. A spiral spring, (1, intervenes between the arm t of the lever G and the under side of the tongue 0, and tends to elevate the opposite arm and to press its inclined projection n against the under side of the projection l of the ham- 11101. The hammer Q has another projection, 10, which is arranged to slide freely ina chamber formed in the tongue, the end of the pro jcction fitting into an orifice in the vertical portion h of the breech. Prior to the insertion of the cartridge into the rear of the barrel the hammer Q is slid back to the position of half-cock and the projection w thereby withdrawn from the orifice of the breech, and the inclined projection n on the lever G catches into the notch moi the pro'ection lot the hammer, thereby holding the atter back. After this, the movable breech is elevated to the position shown by dotted lines, Fig. 1, and the cartridge may be readily inserted into the chamber at the rear of the barrel. The breech is now depressed to its original position, acap placed on the nipple, and the inclined projection a withdrawn from the notch m so that'the hammer can be allowed to move gently against the nipple and the projection in to enter the orifice of the breech,when the firearm is ready for use. \Vhcn the load has to be discharged, the hammer is slid back to the position of fullcock and there retained. By means of the usual. trigger, which bears against the under side of the arm 6 of the lever G, and which it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate in the drawings, the hammer is released, and by the action of the spring E strikes the cap with sufficient force to discharge the load.

On one side of the barrel is a rod, II, which is arranged to slide longitudinally in an opening in the collar or; or it may be otherwise guided. One end of this red is bent so as to catch against the inside of the collar or enlargenient f of the cartridge, the other end being arranged to bear against a shoulder on one of the projections d of the breech, so that on elevating the latter to the position shown in dotted lines the rod II will be moved forward and will push the cartridge a limited distance from the rear of the barrel, after which the cartridge can be easily withdrawn by the fingers.

Although I have described a movable breech of peculiar construction, it will be evident that my device for partially withdrawing the cartridge from the bore of the barrel is not dependent npon a breech-piece of the specific construction described.

I therefore claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The sliding rod H, arranged in respect to the metallic cartridge, and operated by the movable breech of a breeclrloading fire-arm, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

B. F. JOSLYN.

\Vi tnesses:

J. S. COPELAND, l A. lfnmrnn. 

